Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of governor vessel moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule

simple fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule and placebo moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule for mild to moderate depression with kidney-yang deficiency. Methods A total of 126 patients with mild to moderate depression with kidney-yang deficiency were randomized into a governor vessel moxibustion group（42 cases

2 cases dropped off）

a western medication group（42 cases

1 case dropped off） and a placebo moxibustion group（42 cases

1 case dropped off）.The western medication group was given fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule orally

20 mg a time

once a day. On the basis of the treatment in the western medication group

governor vessel moxibustion was applied from Dazhui（GV 14） to Yaoshu（GV 2） in the governor vessel moxibustion group

once a week; placebo moxibustion was applied in the placebo moxibustion group

once a week. Treatment of 8 weeks was required in the 3 groups. Before and after treatment

the scores of Hamilton depression scale-17（HAMD-17）

Asberg’s rating scale for side effects（SERS） and TCM clinical symptom were compared

and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results After treatment

the scores of HAMD-17

SERS and TCM clinical symptom were decreased compared before treatment in the 3 groups（P<0.05）

the decrease ranges of above scores in the governor vessel moxibustion group were larger than those in the western medication group and the placebo moxibustion group（P<0.05）. The total effective rate was 92.5%（37/40） in the governor vessel moxibustion group

which was higher than 75.6%（31/41） in the western medication group and 80.5%（33/41） in the placebo moxibustion group（P<0.05）. Conclusion Governor vessel moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule can improve the degree of depression and relieve the clinical symptoms in mild to moderate depression patients with kidney-yang deficiency

the efficacy is superior to simple fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule

and can reduce the fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule-induced adverse effect to a certain extent.